Shillong, Nov 27: The cement manufacturers have agreed to allocate 120 trucks daily for local transporters, with 100 trucks starting from Thursday and another 20 from December 1.
The agreement was reached during a meeting held with the representatives of the Jaintia Hills Cement Manufacturers Association (JHCMA) and three major transporter associations – Jaintia Hills Truck Owners & Drivers Association, East Jaintia Hills Truck Owners & Transporter Association, and Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners & Drivers Association.
The transporter associations had requested priority for local people, increasing the quota from 80 trucks to 120 trucks daily.
“Today, the cement manufacturers have agreed to 120 trucks as per the demands by the truck drivers and owners’ associations. Immediately, 100 trucks will start from tomorrow itself, and another 20 will start from December 1,” Dhar told reporters after the meeting.
On the rates in the interstate border, the state government has received a legal opinion stating it cannot notify rates for other states.
“Legally, it was not possible for the state government of Meghalaya to notify the rate for other states,” Dhar
The interstate rates will be market-driven, while intrastate movement rates are fixed at Rs 9 per metric tonne/km.
The cement manufacturers said the Rs 9 rate is “uneconomic” and may lead to higher cement prices.
During the meeting, the cement manufacturers kept on telling the transporter associations that Rs 9 is too high and requested them to reconsider it. Dhar wanted both parties to negotiate and settle the issue at their level.
“I think the cement manufacturers and transporters may again sit for negotiation.”
The deputy chief minister also informed that he, along with the deputy chief minister in charge of home, Prestone Tynsong, had discussed the issue of alleged exorbitant rates of cement in the state.
“A meeting will be convened with cement manufacturers to discuss the cement prices,” he said.
